Cal-Maine Foods, the largest egg producer in the United States, has been navigating significant challenges due to recent egg price fluctuations and legal issues. In early 2023, the company reported a remarkable 65% increase in quarterly profit to $198 million. This surge was largely driven by a severe avian flu outbreak that led to skyrocketing egg prices, highlighting the financial impact of market disruptions as reported by kitv.com.
However, by October 2023, Cal-Maine's financial fortunes had reversed as egg prices fell dramatically by 30%, resulting in a 99% plunge in net income to just $926,000 for the quarter ending September 2. Reuters indicates that the primary reason for this downturn was the recovery of the U.S. egg supply from the avian flu crisis. Consequently, Cal-Maine's stock declined by 7% post-earnings report, underscoring investor concerns over the company's future performance amid market corrections.
Additionally, Cal-Maine is currently cooperating with a U.S. Department of Justice antitrust investigation that began in April 2025. The probe is examining whether the company engaged in any anticompetitive practices related to egg pricing during the high price period. Throughout these challenges, Cal-Maine remains focused on managing its operations in a volatile egg market, balancing between financial performance and regulatory compliance.